Package-filler.



M. J. FLEMING L T. 0. BALLARD.

PACKAGE PILLER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, '1911.

150469762, Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

311490111 lozs M. J. FLHMING 6L T. O. BALLARD.

PACKAGE FILLER.

APELIGATION FILED JULY 17, 1911.

1.046,762. APaitented DBC. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7%? 71M I /mr 7.1M

y Houma M. J. FLEMING L T. O. BALLARD.

PACKAGE FILLER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1911.

Patente Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

lfl

MELVIN JQFLEMING, or GREENWOOD, AND TAYLOR o. BALLARD, or FRANKLIN,INDIANA, AssIGNons to GRAFTON JOHNSON, or GREENWOOD, INDIANA.

PACKAGE-ELDER.

Specification of Letters Itatent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed July 17, 1911. Serial No. 638,930.

To all 'whom t may concern Be 1t known that we, MnLvIN J. FLEMING,

. residing at Greenwood, Johnson count-y, In-

diana, and TAYLOR U. BALLARD, residing at Franklin, in the county ofJohnson and State of Indiana, have invented a new and usefulPackage-Filler, of which the following is a specification.

The Object of our invention is to produce an apparatus by means ofwhich. cans or other receptacles may be automatically filled with anexact quantity of liquid or semiliquid, the construction being such asto prevent froth'ing during the filling action and also such as toprevent dripping of any material from the filling tube during thewithdrawal of the filled receptacle and placing of an empty receptacle.

The accompanying drawings illustrate our invention.

Figure 1 is a developed circumferential section, largely diagran'nnatic,of our apparatus; Fig. 2 an axial section; Fig. 3 an enlarged axialsection of the can centering` head and the filling tube; Fig. 4 afragmentary elevation on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 10 indicates an upright shaft rotated by suitablemeans, such as gears .l1 and 12`and main drive shaft 13. Carried by theupper end of shaft 10 is a lreservoir 14 adapted to containy a quantityof liquid 15, such, for instance, as condensed or evaporated milk, to beplaced in receptacles. The normal level of liquid 15 may be maintainedautoniatically, if desired, by 'means of a float16 carrying valve 17controlling the lower end of a delivery pipe 18. Extending downwardlyfrom the bottom of reservoir 14, in a circumferential series, are anumber of measuring cylinders 21, the upper open end of each of which issecured in the bottom of reservoir 14 so as to communicate with theinterior of the reservoir. At the lower endy of each cylinder 21 is aperforated nipple 22 to the lower end of which is secured a filling tube23said filling tube being preferably readily detachable from andattachable to the nipple 22 by means of a coupling 24. rllhe tube 23 isvery small, being shown practically full size in Fig. 3, and in order toprotect it at its lower end, it' is projected through a neatly fittingOpening at the end of reservoir 14.

formed through a plate 25 carried by the can centeringhead 26. Head 26at its lower end is provided with an inverted cup 27 into which theupper end of theean 2S may be projected, the bottom of the cup beingsubstantially the same diameter as the top of 'the can so that the canwill have its small filling opening 2S) `always accurately eeuteredrelative to the lower end of the filling tube 23. Head 26 is carried atthe lower end a can-receiving table 41v which is. provided on its uppersurface with a circumferential series- Of can pockets each of which isformed for the ready reception of a can 28.

vIn the bottom ofveacbY can pocket 42 is a recess 43 which surrounds theupper end of a vertical bearing 44 in which is mounted a verticallyreciprocating plunger or pin 45 which, at its upper end, is providedwith a head 46 fitting recess 43 and of such size as to form asubstantial support for a can 28 when the same is projected into pocket42.

Table 41 rotates with shaft 10 and reservoir 14 and is so positionedupon the shaft that its several pockets 42 will register vertically withcylinders 21 and their centering heads 26. Lying within the reservoir 14is a circular series of ejecting plungers 47, each of which fits snuglyint-o the upper end of a cylinder 21. Each plunger 47 is carried by astem 48 secured to ay cross head 51 vertically reciprocable in suitableguide-ways 52 Each'cross head 51 carries a roller 53 by means of whichthe cross head and connecting plunger may be reciprocated, the saidrollers engaging in succession two cams 54 and 55, the cam 54 producingupward movements ofthe plunger and cam .5.5 producing downward movementsof the plunger. The cams and 55 overlap each other in order to maintainthe plunger-s at all times under positive control.

It will be readily understood that the function of these two cams mightbe performed by a single cam slot properly formed if desired.

I Cam 54 in the middle portion of its length has a general upwardinclination of comparatively small amountbut its initial end 56 has asharp pitch upwardly and its final end 57 has a comparatively sharpdownward pitch which is overlapped by the correspondingly pitchedinitial end 58 of the cam 55.

Arranged beneath the path of travel of pins 44 is a stationary cam 61,the middle portiony of which is horizontal. The initial end 62 of cam 61has a comparatively sharp upward pitch and vthe final end 6 3 of saidcam has a lless sharp downward pitch, the tip 63 of said cam beingpreferably 'pivoted at 64 to the portion 63 so that its 20 final end maybe vertically adjusted by a temper screw 65.

Referring Anow more particularly to Fig. 1, the operation of theapparatus is as f ollows: Shaft 10 with its attached parts loeing setinmotion, an empty can 28 is delivered-in any suitable manner to theposition I. In this position, plunger 47 lies in= the upper endofcylinder 21 and is still moving upwardly therein because of theengagement of roller 53 with the main portion of cam 54, this upwardmovement being comparatively slow and sufficient to prevent any downwardfiow or leakage through the Y the upward movementof the can will havefilling tube of any liquid which may be in the cylinder and fillingtube. As the table advances, the can is carried to position II andprojected upwardly into engagement with the centering head 26 so thatits filling opening 29 will come accuratelyinto reg.- istryy with thelower end of' the filling tube 23, the plunger 47 at this time stilllying within the upper end of cylinder 21. By t-he time the position IIIhas been reached,

continued so that the filling tube will have been projected downwardslightly into the upper end of the can' and plunger 47 will be withdrawnfrom the upper end of cylinder 21 so tli-at the fluid 15 may flowdownwardly into said cylinder and begin its flow through the fillingtube into the can. This initial flow of the fluid is comparativelyslow,'however, and no great amount of fluid passes into the can untilposition VIy is reached, at which time the can will have been projectedup enough to bring the lower end of the filling tube 23 almost to thebot-A tom of' the can so that the discharge end of the tube is'submerged in the liquid in the can. At this position 6, the plunger 47,shown, will have been projected downwardly into the upper end ofcylinder 21 by the initial end 5S of cam 55. Continued rotation of theshaft will bring the can to position XI, the can during this periodrelmaiiiing vertically stationary but the plunger 47 moving downwardlyso as to project the liquid into the can. From position XI to positionXVIII, the can will be permit ted, by portion 63 of cam 61,'to move downslowly, the lower end of the filling tube, however, being kept submergedat all times by the liquid within the can and when position XVIII isreached, the -can will be prac. tically full. It is undesirable,however, to have the can entirely full and, therefore,

while Jthe can is being moved from the posi.

lower end of the cylinder and the filling tube to preventany drippage.By this means it is possible to discharge the filled cans from themachine in a clean condition .so that the fillingopening may be quicklyclosed by -a` drop of solder without the necessity of anypreliminarywiping of ldri'ppage from the j top of the can.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a machine forfilling receptacles, the combination of a fluidreservoir, a cylinder depending therefrom, a filling tube forining theoutlet from said cylinder, a plunger mounted within the cylinder, asupport for receiving a package to be lled and holding the same incopeiative relation with thev filling tube, and means for relativelymoving the package support and the filling tube, and the plunger andcylinder, to project the filling tube into the package to a position Lnear its bottom, to allow the cylinder to be y filled with liquid, tocause the plunger to project the liquid into the package, to with drawthe' filling tube partially from the package to a predetermined amountof iniio ward projection, to -move the plungerfupwardly to extractsurplus from the package to a predetermined level, lto `separate thepackage from the lling tube, and to continue the upward suction movementofthe plunger to prevent drip leakage from the filling tube from thetime. the filled package is withdrawn from the filling tube until anunfilled package may be associated with the filling tube.

2. In a can filling machine, means for supporting a package, 'a fillingcylinder having a filling tube, means for associating and disassociatingthe tube with packages successively placed on Asaid suporting means,means for projecting liqui the cylinder through theiftube' into apackage associated therewith, and means fon-main:

'from isol vwithin the cylinder, a support for receiving a package to befilled and holding the same in cooperative relation with the fillingtube,

and means for relatively moving the package support and the fillingtube, and the plunger and cylinder, to project the filling tube into thepackage to a position near its bottom, to allow the cylinder to befilled with liquid, to cause the plunger to project the liquid into thepackage, to withdraw the filling tube partially from the package to apredetermined amount of inward projec- :combination of a fluidreservoir, a plurality tion, to move the plunger upwardly to eX- tractsurplus from the package to a predetermined level, to separate thepackage from the filling tube, to continue the upward suction movementof the plunger to prevent drip leakage from the filling tube from thetime the filled package is withdrawn from the filling tube until anunfilled package may be associated with the filling tube, and forstarting said suction movement of the plunger sharply.

4. In a machine for filling receptacles, the combination of a fluidreservoir, a plurality of cylinders communicating therewithja fillingtube leading from each cylinder, a

plunger for each cylinder, a support for receiving a package to befilled and holding it in coperative relation with the filling tube ofeach cylinder, means for successively moving the corresponding packagesupports and filling tubes relatively to each other to extend each ofthe latter into and nearly to the bottoni of a package on said supportand to withdraw it from such package, and

sol

means for successively moving -the corresponding plungers and cylindersrelatively to each other to ad'irrit-*rfiuid from the reservoir to eachcylinder after the corresponding filling tube has been .inserted intothe package, then to force such fluid from the cylinder through thefilling tube into the package, then to withdraw from the filled packagea little of the. fluid thus injected into it, and then, after thefilling tube has been withdrawniffrom" the package, to maintain a slightsuction through the filling tube into the cylinder to prevent drippingas an unfilled package issubstituted for va filled one. t 5. In amachine for filling receptacles, thek leading from the cylinder, aplunger for the cylinder, a support for receiving a package to be filledand holding it in cooperative relation with the filling tube, means formoving the package support and filling tube relatively to each other toextend the latter into and nearly to the bottom of a package on saidsupport and to withdraw it from such package, and means for moving theplunger and cylinder relatively to each other to admit fluid from thereservoir to such cylinder after the filling tube has been inserted intothe package, then to force such fluid from the cylinder through thefilling tube into the package, then to Withdraw from the filled packagea little of the fluid thus injected into it, and then, after the fillingtube' has been withdrawn` from the package, to maintain a slight suctionthrough the filling tube into the cylinder to .prevent dripping as anunfilled package is substituted for a filled one. f

6.y In a machine for filling receptacles, the

of cylinders communicating therewith, a filling tube leading from eachcylinder, a plunger for each cylinder, a support for receiving'a packageto be filled and holding it in coperative relation with the filling tubeof each cylinder, means for successivelymo ving the correspondingpackage supports and filling tubes relatively to each other to extendeach of the latter into and nearly to the bottom of a package on saidsupport and to withdraw it from such package,.and means for.successively moving the corresponding plungers and cylinders relativelyto each ther to admit fluid from the reservoir to each cylinder afterthe corresponding filling tube has been inserted into the package, thento force such fiuid from the cylinder through the filling tube into thepackage, and then, after the filling tube has been Withdrawn from thepackage, to maintain a Slight suction through the filling tube into thecylinder to prevent dripping as an unfilled pack age is su stituted fora filled one.

7. In ag'machine for filling receptacles, the combination of a fluidreservoir, a cylinder communicating therewith, a filling tube leadingfrom the cylinder, a plunger for the cylinder, a support for receiving'a package to be filled and holding it in ccperative relation with thefilling tube, means for moving the package support and filling tuberelatively to each other to extend the latter into and nearly to thebottom of a package on said support and to withdraw .it from suchpackage, and means kfor moving the plunger and cylinder relatively toeach other to admit fluid from the reservoir to such cylinder after thefilling tube has been inserted into the package, then to force suchfluid from the cylinder through the filling tube into the package, andthen, after the filling tube has i been Withdrawn from the package, tomaintain a slight suction through the filling tube into the cylinder toprevent dripping as an unfilled package is substituted for a filled one.

8, In a machine -for filling receptacles, the

combination of a fluid reservoir, aplurality support and to Withdraw itfrom such pack age, and means for successively moving lthe correspondingplungers and cylinders relatively to each other to admit fluid from thereservoir to cach cylinder after the corresponding filling tube has beeninserted into the package, then to force such fluid from the cylinderthrough the filling tube into the package, then to Withdraw from thefilled package a little of the fluid thus injected into it, and then,after the filling tube has been Withdrawn from the package, to maintain,a slight suction through the filling tube into the cylinder to preventdripping as an unlled package is substituted for a filled oner 9. ln amachine 'for filling receptacles, the combination of a fluid reservoir,a cylinder communicating therewith, a fillin tube leading from thecylinder, a plunger 'or the cylinder, a support for receiving a packageto be filled and holdin it in coperative relation with the filling ube,means for moving the package ysupport Aand filling tube rela tively toeach other to extend the latter into a package on said support and toWithdraw it from such package, and means for moving the plunger andcylinder relatively to each other to admit fluid lfrom the reservoir tosuch cylinder after the filling tube has been inserted into the package,then to force such fluid from the cylinder through the filling tube intothe package, then to Withdraw from the filled package a little of thefluid thus injected into it, and then, after the filling tube has beenWithdrawn from the package, to maintain a slight suction through thefilling tube into the cylinder to prevent dripping as an unfilledpackage is substituted for a filled onc.-

l0. In a machine for filling receptacles,

accese@ the combination of a fluid reservoir, a pluceiving a package tobe. lled and holding it in coperative relation with the filling tube ofeach cylindennieans for successively moving the corresponding packagesupports and filling tubes relatively to each other to eX- tend each ofthe lattei` into a package on said support and to Withdraw it from suchpackage, and means for successively moving the corresponding plungersand cylinders relatively to each other to admit fluid from the reservoirto each cylinder after the corresponding filling tube has been insertedinto the package, then to force such fluid from the cylinder through thefilling tube into the package, and then, after the filling tube has beenWithdrawn from the package, to maintain a slight suction through thelling tube into the cylinder to prevent dripping as an unfilled packageis substituted for a filled one. v

11. In a machine for filling receptacles,

the combination of a uid reservoir, a cyl1nder communicating therewith,a filling tube leading from the cylinder, a plunger for the cylinder,asupport for receiving a package to be filled and holding it incooperative relation with the filling tube, means for moving the packagesupport and filling tube relatively to each other to extend the latterinto a package on said support and to With draw it from such package,and means for moving the plunger and cylinder relatively to each otherto admit fluid from the reservoir to such cylinder after the fillin tubehas been inserted into the package, t en to force such fiuid fromthe-cylinder through the filling tube into the package, and then, afterth'efillingl tube has been Withdrawn from the package, to maintain aslight suction through the filling tube into the cylinder to preventdripping as an unfilled package is substituted for a lled one.

In Witness whereof, We have hereunto set, our hands and seals atGreenwood, Indiana, July, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and eleven.

MELviN if. rLnMiue. [La] rravine-a o.` BALLARD. [a a] Witnesses :v

NOBLE B. RrroHEY, R. WV. CRARY.

